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 This
page assumes your wheelchair or scooter has two large 12v batteries on board as
most do.
You may as well take advantage of that power!
Why
you would want to fit a single heavy duty 24v "Anderson" style connector:
a) Almost all Deep Cycle AGM batteries (and
many GEL batteries) as used on our powerchairs and scooters are quite capable of
being safely charged much faster with larger (bigger amp) chargers that they are
normally supplied with. But the standard powerchair / scooter charge plug/socket
and wiring is too small to safely allow this. See
Fast Charging Your Powerchair
This allows a mid day top up in under an hour and PROLONGS battery longevity to
help your pocket and means you go out in the evening fully charged!
b) Various other devices we want to use/run
while sat in a powerchair or scooter are mains powered. A larger 24v inverter to
240v ac or 110/120v ac (1000 watts or above up to say 1500 watts) can be safely
run from these 50 amp connectors to allow this if correctly fitted.
Or even just a small few hundred
watt one. (Although up to a 300 watt inverter can also usually run from your
normal existing Neutrix charge socket)
This allows
things like mains powered vacuum cleaners, garden tools like electric trimmers or mowers,
drills, lights, laptops, hair dryers, car vacuums and polishers, soldering
irons, phone chargers, or any other
mains powered device you normally need to use an extension lead for, to run
directly from your powerchair indoors or out.
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I use mine for both (a) above and
most of this list! This frees you from the bind of extended mains cables that
get caught in your wheels while cutting the grass/cleaning the car or just using
your laptop in your powerchair foe hours in the pub as I am writing this...
c) You have a direct 24v connection for any other
purpose you may have in mind. It allows you to charge your powerchair
at 24v directly from say a boat, or RV that uses a 24 volt battery system and
let the engines alternator do the work. A vehicles alternator or a portable
generator can recharge your
powerchair or scooters fast (typically in under an hour from flat to 90 percent
plus),
This REQUIRES that you have a vehicle with 24 volt electrical system
however, like buses, coaches, RV's, trucks, boats etc. In addition in car
24v wheelchair chargers are available
that run from your cars 12v electrics. So you can charge while you drive!
Some small suitcase generators have 24v battery charging outputs too and these
can be connected directly if you get stuck and need a charge or if say camping
or on a busy day out.
The white/grey socket seen here is an Anderson connector. Its a 50 amp sized one.
These things come in all sizes and colours. They are strong reliable and need cables that can take 50 amps (8 square mm
minimum but 10 sq mm cable is better). They cannot connect back to front and any two can be connected
together. This one is connected across the two batteries to give the full 24
volts.
If you want you can also fit two more on the left side of the chair
as I have, (so you don't get mixed up) and connect each one to a separate battery
to give 12v at each plug/connector. I will not tell you how to do/wire this because
if you need to ask then you really are not safe doing it! - Find a yourself a good DIYer or
an auto electrician, or if you can find a powerchair technical guy that
understands it.
And now with a PAIR of connectors. (2x 12v) for greater flexibility.
One to each 12v battery.
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Why
you would want to add two 12v connectors - one to each battery individually.
FOR ADVANCED users only!
a) It allows you to check that each battery is at the SAME exact voltage after
charging and that no imbalance is developing. See the extensive other battery info on this
site to understand why this is essential! I actually use a dual 12v
charger rather than a single 24 volt one because this is so important. See
below.
b) It allows you to charge each individual battery individually with a
single12v
charger (ONE AT A TIME ONLY) therefore making sure that both batteries are correctly and absolutely
equally charged and at
the same exact charged voltage level. Since the two batteries are also connected
in series to power your scooter or powerchair then NEVER try to charge both at once as your charger will be damaged
or shorted out!
c) It allows you to charge your batteries INDIVIDUALLY very fast when out and
about from any 12V automobile. Just use one 12V plug/connector at a time for half an hour and
connect to any normal cars 12v charging system (the vehicles battery) with the engine running.
You just
need the matching Anderson plug with a couple of crocodile / battery clamps to connect to the
vehicles battery as used on a vehicle jump leads. You get a
constant 14.4 volts this way from the cars alternator and your battery is safe from overcharge just like
your cars own battery is. It will charge very fast.
(Typically half hour to 90 percent full from very discharged)
Do only ONE AT A TIME to avoid smoke and sparks...
You need to understand why this is important! If you
don't, then don't try it!
Then later on when home and time allows make sure that you charge each 12v scooter or
wheelchair battery individually
via the same connectors with a modern logic controlled multi stage quality
12v battery charger over a full charge cycle after this to rebalance the two batteries
up properly and ensure they are at the same state of charge once again..
You really do not want one in a higher state of charge than the other when
charging with your normal 24v wheelchair charger as it will overcharge one
battery and
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undercharge the other at the same time. Causing long term damage to both
batteries. This is
only for those that understand what they are doing. I have been doing it for
years without issue. It just means that I have yet another method of charging my
powerchair from my van at a very fast rate as and when needed on a busy day out
should the need/opportunity arise.
d) you CAN run any 12v devices you may want
to use by connecting to either 12v plug/connector. But remember that the
batteries MUST be rebalanced by charging them both to the same state (as
described above) or they will be damaged otherwise in the long term by using the normal 24v
wheelchair charger later on.
Disclaimer... If you do not
fully understand all of this or the possible consequences of getting anything
wrong then do not do it! It requires understanding for safety. Batteries can
produce thousands of amps and explode if you don't know what you are doing!
Its all quite safe if you DO understand.
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 You
will also need some of these!
I get my terminals and my Anderson connectors
from the great Bay of E... Typically the Anderson connectors are less than 2 UK
pounds.
Cheaper crimp versions work, but are less
reliable than the soldered ones in the top picture.
I also have Anderson fly leads connected to all
my vehicle batteries, and all my chargers.
In this way its easy to start my van
from my powerchair in an emergency or charge my powerchair from my van... Or to
connect any of my chargers, inverters, generators, or other appliances together
at will just by keeping a single Anderson "extension" lead of a couple of meters
length in my van.
Very fancy gold plated connectors for the perfectionist! (below) I have loads of these!
eBay again.
As for cable 8 square mm is the minimum size
that's is safe. 10 square mm is better. Make sure you do a safe job. If in
any doubt either don't do it or get an expert to do it for you
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DISCLAIMER
When it comes to connecting to a vehicle battery
for charging, especially with a pair of 12v connectors you better understand
what you are doing!
Because get it wrong and you could be sat on a
very hot flaming powerchair or actually explode a battery or melt a cable or
two! Its only for those that truly understand what they are doing! Its the
knowledge of what is happening that makes it safe. In other words I am not
responsible for your safety - you are!
Having said all that it is perfectly safe if done
correctly and I have been doing this for many years.
But as a good friend who supplied technical
equipment to the public once said to me:
"No matter how idiot proof I
try to make the instructions it doesn't help because they keep on making better
idiots..."
In other words I can give out
information in good faith but I cant control what people do with it.
I can now charge my chair fast with this 30 amp 24v charger. It does 12v too!
So I can also charge each battery individually to be sure they are "matched" and
at the exact same state of charge. Since my VAN also has this same connection I
can use this 30 amp charger to charge my van if needed too. But more importantly
I can charge my powerchair directly from my van! And very quickly. see
Charge a Powerchair directly from a vehicle
This allows me to either charge both batteries together in series as 24v
string using the standard wheelchair charger, (which now has a single Anderson
connector fitted. Or to do the same with the
fast 30 amp charger
above when in a hurry. And it also allows me to power my
Hyperion charger to charge ANY battery directly
from my powerchair. That included hobby stuff, phones, vehicles and other
powerchairs! Below:
This charger is truly flexible...
But dual 12v sockets on the chair allows me to use this advanced charger
every night while I sleep. Better, and faster than any wheelchair charger
because it charges each 12v battery individually rather than as a "string" in
series. So each gets the correct charge regardless.
And of course those Anderson sockets allow you to run other things from your
powerchair directly. This is a cheap 2000 watt inverter. It allows me to power a
lawnmower, laptop, drill, power polisher, vacuum cleaner, or whatever you wish directly
from your powerchair! I am running a hair trimmer from the inverter above
as I type. No more cables to wind in and out and get caught in your
wheels.
12v appliances work too! (use one single battery/connector) But if you do that you must also use a split 12v
+ 12v charger like the yellow one above to rebalance your batteries while you
sleep! Or charge them with a quality 12v multi stage charger one at a time.
Of course there are many other options and combinations of chargers and other
devices that you can now use too. But you must understand what you are doing -
or don't blame me when it all bursts into flames.
A pair of connectors, ready wired up with 8 gauge cable and fitted to a metal
plate for easy mounting...
Bolting that plate to the seat frame. Then just connect to each
battery... Ask an adult! And don't blame me if you get it wrong!
Works great for me but I understand what I am doing.
Use HEAVY gauge cables. This is 10 square mm cable. Hard insulation and
tinned. Quality stuff. This came from EBay as did the ten Anderson
connectors in the box. Check out marine wiring suppliers etc. This stuff is hard
to get. 8 gauge is ok if you cant find this but considerable thinner. I re wire
all my powerchairs with this stuff. The stock puny wiring on factory powerchairs
loses MUCH power. Because the controllers protection cuts in when it thinks the
battery voltage has dropped. When really its the cable resistance under load.
Any questions? See
Message Board
Related Pages
Charge a Powerchair directly from a vehicle
Anderson Style connectors
and why you need them
Fast Charge YOUR Powerchair
in Around 1 Hour
Inverters & Chargers
Batteries for Both Vans & Power Wheelchairs
Which
Batteries to Buy
Very Flexible Charger!
Fuses!
Lithium Ion Batteries for
Powerchairs and Scooters
My Power Wheelchair or Scooter Will Not Charge
BCI Battery Sizes, Group 22, 24, 34, 27 etc
Drive Your
Powerchair by Radio Control
A
Superior Powerchair
overnight charger
Battery Planning
How to organise yourself for every eventuality!
MORE: Detailed PowerChair Only Menu
